.And.taking.a.deep.breath,.she.cried,..Cruc—..
.NO!..shouted.Hermione.in.a.cracked.voice.from.behind.Millicent.Bulstrode...No.‐.Harry.‐.we.ll.have.to.tell.her!..
.No.way!..yelled.Harry,.staring.at.the.little.of.Hermione.he.could.see..
.We.ll.have.to,.Harry,.she.ll.force.it.out.of.you.anyway,.what.s….what.s.the.point?..
And.Hermione.began.to.cry.weakly.into.the.back.of.Millicent.Bulstrode.s.robes.
.Millicent.stopped.trying.to.squash.her.against.the.wall.immediately.and.dodged.out.of.her.way.looking.disgusted..
.Well,.well,.well!..said.Umbridge,.looking.triumphant...Little.Miss.Question‐all.is.going.to.give.us.some.answers!.Come.on.then,.girl,.come.on!..
.Er.‐.my.‐.nee.‐.no!..shouted.Ron.through.his.gag..
Ginny.was.staring.at.Hermione.as.though.she.had.never.seen.her.before..Neville,
.still.choking.for.breath,.was.gazing.at.her,.too..But.Harry.had.just.noticed.something..Though.Hermione.was.sobbing.desperately.into.her.hands,.there.was.no.trace.of.a.tear..
.I.m.‐.I.m.sorry.everyone,..said.Hermione...But.‐.I.can.t.stand.it.‐..
That.s.right,.that.s.right,.girl!..said.Umbridge,.seizing.Hermione.by.the.shoulders,
.thrusting.her.into.the.abandoned.chintz.chair.and.leaning.over.her...Now.then…
.with.whom.was.Potter.communicating.just.now?..
.Well,..gulped.Hermione.into.her.hands,..well,.he.was.trying.to.speak.to.Professor.Dumbledore...
Ron.froze,.his.eyes.wide;.Ginny.stopped.trying.to.stamp.on.her.Slytherin.captor.s.toes;.and.even.Luna.looked.mildly.surprised..Fortunately,.the.attention.of.Umbridge.and.her.minions.was.focused.too.exclusively.upon.Hermione.to.notice.these.suspicious.signs..
.Dumbledore?..said.Umbridge.eagerly...You.know.where.Dumbledore.is,.then?..
.Well….no!..sobbed.Hermione...We.ve.tried.the.Leaky.Cauldron.in.Diagon.Alley.and.the.Three.Broomsticks.and.even.the.Hog.s.Head.‐..
.Idiot.girl.‐.Dumbledore.won.t.be.sitting.in.a.pub.when.the.whole.Ministry.s.looking.lor.him!..shouted.Umbridge,.disappointment.etched.in.every.sagging.line.of.her.face..
.But.‐.but.we.needed.to.tell.him.something.important!..wailed.Hermione,.holding.her.hands.more.tightly.over.her.face,.not,.Harry.knew,.out.of.anguish,.but.to.disguise.the.continued.absence.of.tears..
.Yes?..said.Umbridge.with.a.sudden.resurgence.of.excitement...What.was.it.you.wanted.to.tell.him?..
We….we.wanted.to.tell.him.it.s.r.‐.ready!..choked.Hermione..
What.s.ready?..demanded.Umbridge,.and.now.she.grabbed.Hermione.s.shoulders.again.and.shook.her.slightly..What.s.ready,.girl?..
The….the.weapon,..said.Hermione..
.Weapon?.Weapon?..said.Umbridge,.and.her.eyes.seemed.to.pop.with.excitement...You.have.been.developing.some.method.of.resistance?.A.weapon.you.could.use.against.the.Ministry?.On.Professor.Dumbledore.s.orders,.of.course?..
.Y.—.y.‐.yes,..gasped.Hermione,..but.he.had.to.leave.before.it.was.finished.and.n.‐.n.‐.now.we.ve.finished.it.for.him,.and.we.c.‐.c.‐.can.t.find.him.t.‐.t.‐.to.tell.him!..
.What.kind.of.weapon.is.it?..said.Umbridge.harshly,.her.stubby.hands.still.tight.on.Hermione.s.shoulders..